Kulya cut off discussion. "Okay. So we're agreed there are lots of ways to distract the leader. And that might be sufficient if this group was organized for command and control. But what if it wasn't? What if the people he's collected are confident enough to work on their own, if it didn't matter if he wasn't available? What do you do then?
Craig was beginning to feel like a double agent, a spy for Constitutional Evolution scoping out the tactics that might be used against them. Earlier, when they were talking about a group that someone else had infiltrated, he had no qualms about taking action against them. The prospect of blocking efforts that he agreed were dangerous even invigorated him. But doing it to people he'd privately decided to support was a whole different matter.
Kelly got the floor again. "If someone else just takes over for him, we just change our target.
"I suppose you could, but the pattern might be noticed. Any other ideas?
She shrugged. "Stir up dissent within the group?
"Now you're starting to think about guerilla tactics. Good. But how do you carry it out? With this strategy, you can't simply insinuate rumors. You'd have to get directly involved. Go undercover.
Craig nervously raised his hand. "Wouldn't that mean ingratiating yourself to them? Being part of their team, as it were?
"Sure. But only up to a point. You'd have to find a way to not be part of any action they're planning, or you'd open the agency to scrutiny for interfering in domestic affairs.
"Well, as far as I can tell, Derek Boa's group doesn't plan on conducting actions of any kind, unless you include talking about their ideas. Maybe even to congress.
"They'd be relying on the First Amendment's protection of political speech, then, but subversive speech can still be treason. Especially these days. It's treacherous ground. In this situation, you shouldn't have any trouble staying in their midst until they're about to cross that line. Of course, if your objective in being there is to sow dissent, you'll still have to keep from being found out. Free-speechers can still be vicious.
"Mr. Kulya? It was Kelly again.
"Yes? Did we miss something?
"I think so. You'd asked what we'd do if the target group wasn't command and control. What did you mean by that?
He scanned the young faces at the table. "How much do you know about the I.W.W.?
Craig blurted out, "You mean the Wobblies?
"Otherwise known as the International Workers of the World. What do you know about them?
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
